The Open Championship

[UKCowboysFan]

So here we are on the eve of the Open championship, 150 years after the first staging of the Tournament.

If the weather continues like it is today (pouring rain & 40mph winds) the scoring could be off the charts. However if the wind eases they will probably rip it apart.

Interestingly Tiger is favourite (I guess based on the fact he has won twice before at St Andrews, albeit in fairly calm conditions), but on current form I think it is wide open. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if we have a shock winner.

[joseephuss]

So here we are on the eve of the Open championship, 150 years after the first staging of the Tournament.

If the weather continues like it is today (pouring rain & 40mph winds) the scoring could be off the charts. However if the wind eases they will probably rip it apart.

Interestingly Tiger is favourite (I guess based on the fact he has won twice before at St Andrews, albeit in fairly calm conditions), but on current form I think it is wide open. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if we have a shock winner.

John Daley is due to win again and he has won at St. Andrews before.

Just kidding. I think it is wide open. I can't even fathom a guess as to who will pull it off.

[Vintage]

I'm pulling for Tiger, like I always do. Rose is coming in hot. Watson was a nice story last year, but I don't think he can do it again.

Daly has always had the talent to do it, just never the drive or sobriety.

Phil is always in contention.

McIlroy won't come close; but I'm cheering for the kid regardless.

[greg08]

here is my top 3 picks

1. Ian Poulter
2. justin rose
3. ross McGowan

[Vintage]

here is my top 3 picks

1. Ian Poulter
2. justin rose
3. ross McGowan


Interesting pick with Poulter. I like him as a golfer, too.

[jackrussell]

Would like to at least see Tiger play well if not win.

Rose has been on fire, fast becoming a fan of his.

I see McGowan as a pick, interesting considering he's at 250-1.

Can Els continue playing strong?

More interested this year as I play the WGT (http://www.wgt.com/home.aspx) golf and they let you play St. Andrews, by far the most fun course to play. Some of those bunkers had to be made by some errant German bombs I tell ya. Love driving over the buildings on 17, would hate to be a tenant there.

[jimmy40]

I'm pulling for Tiger, like I always do. Rose is coming in hot. Watson was a nice story last year, but I don't think he can do it again.

Daly has always had the talent to do it, just never the drive or sobriety.

Phil is always in contention.

McIlroy won't come close; but I'm cheering for the kid regardless.I don't ever remember Phil being in contention at a British Open, maybe he has.

[Doomsday]

After hearing the interview with the British reporters asking Tiger if he was planning to curse and spit on the coarse, I cant help but root for him.

Is spitting on a golf coarse really inappropriate? If so I should be banned from my local coarse for life.

The line of questioning was out of line and irrelevant. I dont understand why people are so infatuated with the personal lives of celebrities and pro athletes.

[UnoDallas]

first off surely you got something better to do with you time than watch 4 to 8 hours of GOLF - the most boring thing on TV

I can't stand it

I hope Tiger does not make the cut

hate him

[casmith07]

Tiger Woods is looking pretty awesome in the first round.

How about John Daly leading the field through his first round? :laugh1: I think someone has overtaken him at -7 to his -6, but still pretty good for the old alcoholic.

McIlroy is leading, -9 thru his first round. Tiger closing in at -6.

[Vintage]

I don't ever remember Phil being in contention at a British Open, maybe he has.


Yeah, he hasn't at the British Open....

I meant more or less how he's in contention at Majors, but perhaps that was still a dumb comment given how he's never really been in contention at this particular major....

Though, clearly, he has the talent to do so.

[Vintage]

I'm pulling for Tiger, like I always do. Rose is coming in hot. Watson was a nice story last year, but I don't think he can do it again.

Daly has always had the talent to do it, just never the drive or sobriety.

Phil is always in contention.

McIlroy won't come close; but I'm cheering for the kid regardless.


Tiger is at -6 thru 16. Hit his tee shot wayward on 17, bogey is likely.
Daly is in at -6.
McIlroy, was I dead wrong. -9 on the day. Kid clearly has game, hopefully he can keep it up.

[Vintage]

, what a recovery shot by Woods. Hit it left on the tee, in the deep crap, was able to put it just short of the green from 230+ out.

[jimmy40]

no wind = joke of a course

[Hostile]

no wind = joke of a courseSo with no wind there you could play that course (St. Andrews) at even par.

I'm impressed.

[jimmy40]

So with no wind there you could play that course (St. Andrews) at even par.

I'm impressed.yes, because that is exactly what I said.

[Arch Stanton]

So with no wind there you could play that course (St. Andrews) at even par.

I'm impressed.

So would David Duval. ;)

[casmith07]

http://www.sweetpaul.com/images/funny/tigeruppercut.jpg

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

Watch Carl Schwartzel over the next couple of days. He's a young South African player who's been tearing it up in Europe. He was -5 on the back side to finish.

Of the Americans, I like Ricky Barnes. He's been playing well, is good in the majors, and likes links play.

[Chocolate Lab]

Jimmy is pretty much right. There was as little wind as I've ever seen there this morning when the leaders were playing. They should have torn it up, because it's the only defense that course has.

Of course, they probably won't be so lucky tomorrow afternoon.

After a quick look at the leaderboard, I'll go with McIlroy (yes, he can do it), Westwood, and Stenson. A guy like Glover or Watney could do it, too.

[UKCowboysFan]

Looks like a fairly calm morning for day 2, however the wind is due to pick up again this afternoon.

Will be interesting to see how the guys who are now protecting a good score do if the wind does blow.

[Vintage]

After the delay, the best round is 73 (+1).

Its nasty out there.

Make your par and move on.

Tiger is at Even today, after bogeying the first two holes. Hopefully he can grind them out today. If anyone can, its him.


edit: McIlroy is fading fast, not surprising he did somewhat given the conditions. But he is now +8 today and isn't finished. Feel bad for the kid, given he had a historic round yesterday and by all account seems like he is a good kid. He has a bright future though...

[greg08]

tough day for scoring. the wind is brutall out there

roy shoots a 63 yesterday and a 80 today. the kid will bounce back

glad to see tiger struggling. he is definetly FTL in my book. I hope the jerk never wins another major

I would like to see either westwood or barnes make a weekend run

[peplaw06]

tough day for scoring. the wind is brutall out there

roy shoots a 63 yesterday and a 80 today. the kid will bounce back

glad to see tiger struggling. he is definetly FTL in my book. I hope the jerk never wins another major

I would like to see either westwood or barnes make a weekend runJudging by the scores of the guys on the course right now, +1 is hardly "struggling."

[BehindEnemyLinez]

tough day for scoring. the wind is brutall out there

roy shoots a 63 yesterday and a 80 today. the kid will bounce back

glad to see tiger struggling. he is definetly FTL in my book. I hope the jerk never wins another major

I would like to see either westwood or barnes make a weekend run

first off surely you got something better to do with you time than watch 4 to 8 hours of GOLF - the most boring thing on TV

I can't stand it

I hope Tiger does not make the cut

hate him
LMAO @ the Tiger hatred...especially from someone who doesn't even watch golf (Uno)!
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt61/ISteliosI/tiger-woods.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:void(0);)
GO GET 'EM EL TIGRE'!!!! ;)

[Vintage]

Judging by the scores of the guys on the course right now, +1 is hardly "struggling."


Yeah, its pretty clear he knows nothing other than he doesn't like Tiger.

Its going to be pretty funny when Tiger comes roaring back.

I'll lol for sure.

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm huge into golf and I can't stand Tiger either.

Now Tom Watson... There's the man.

[greg08]

tiger is the biggest baby on the golf course

he is the only one that act's like a total d-bag when things dont go his way

jack will go down as the GOAT

I probably forgot more about golf then you will ever know

[UKCowboysFan]

Bit of a furore in the press over here this morning.

A lot of players are questioning the timings of the decisions to suspend play.
The suggestions are that the decisions were made to favour Tiger.

Whether there is any truth in the rumours or not I guess we will never know, but the timings were a bit suspect.

[Arch Stanton]

Bit of a furore in the press over here this morning.

A lot of players are questioning the timings of the decisions to suspend play.
The suggestions are that the decisions were made to favour Tiger.

Whether there is any truth in the rumours or not I guess we will never know, but the timings were a bit suspect.

The problem holes were at the far end of the course near the loop. Tiger was at the first hole several hours away from reaching them when play was stopped. If those holes were unplayable then you have to stop playing.

Interesting enough only one player got penalised because of the moving ball on the green and he called the penalty on himself. Sort of sportsmanship that's shown in some sports every day. ;)

[casmith07]

Bit of a furore in the press over here this morning.

A lot of players are questioning the timings of the decisions to suspend play.
The suggestions are that the decisions were made to favour Tiger.

Whether there is any truth in the rumours or not I guess we will never know, but the timings were a bit suspect.

Yeah they were so suspect that Tiger finished the day 9 shots back of the lead at -3.

The press over there is grasping at straws to make a story. Hey! Sounds like :espn:

[tomson75]

Yeah they were so suspect that Tiger finished the day 9 shots back of the lead at -3.

The press over there is grasping at straws to make a story. Hey! Sounds like :espn:

While I don't buy into that either, you're fooling yourself if you don't think there is favoritism towards Tiger in all aspects of this sport. Media, advertising, and play coverage in particular...and they most certainly take him into consideration first and foremost.

While he's earned it in the past, he certainly has not recently. Personally, I'm rather sick of it. When I'm forced to watch one player's shots moreso than the rest of the field's, I usually prefer that it be deserved.

[casmith07]

While I don't buy into that either, you're fooling yourself if you don't think there is favoritism towards Tiger in all aspects of this sport. Media, advertising, and play coverage in particular...and they most certainly take him into consideration first and foremost.

While he's earned it in the past, he certainly has not recently. Personally, I'm rather sick of it. When I'm forced to watch one player's shots moreso than the rest of the field's, I usually prefer that it be deserved.

Truth be told, if Tiger isn't playing, people don't watch. They watch because they show Tiger.

[tomson75]

Truth be told, if Tiger isn't playing, people don't watch. They watch because they show Tiger.

If by "people" you mean the people that essentially care more about Tiger than they do about golf, then yes, I'm sure you're right.

Tiger obviously brings money into the sport, there is no questioning that....but I highly doubt that golf fans would simply stop watching because they didn't show every shot Tiger Woods makes when he shoots 77.

It's unfortunate that Tiger, albeit indirectly, has still such a commanding influence on a sport that should be seeking independence from one particular individual.

Believe it or not, there are more exciting players to watch on tour right now....

[UKCowboysFan]

Yeah they were so suspect that Tiger finished the day 9 shots back of the lead at -3.

The press over there is grasping at straws to make a story. Hey! Sounds like :espn:

To be fair the press were oy reporting what some of the other players were saying.

The wind has been blowing strongly for a good couple of hours, but it was only when Tiger got on the course (he had played one hole) that they decided to suspend play.

After the wind dropped, play was started again.
Then as Tiger got out onto the most exposed parts of the course last night, play was suspended again.

It may well be (in fact most likely) to be a complete coincidence, but some of the players obviously think otherwise.

With regards to him being 9 shots back , he MAY have been a lot more IF he had been forced to complete his second round when the wind was at it's worst.

[greg08]

***** cat shoots a 73 and is DONE. now that the bum is off my tv screen the open is fun to watch again. should be a great finish. stensen had a great round and has put himself in great position for tomorrow. casey looks strong and is my pick for tomorrow

[UnoDallas]

good I don't see Tiger :puke:

making up 13 shots in one day

[Doomsday101]

Congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen he did a great job of keeping his poise and hitting some very good shots on the day.

As for Tiger I still pull for him but think it is going to take some time before he is able to focus and play as he is capable of doing. As for Tiger outburst at times, that outburst is directed at himself he puts allot of pressure on himself and expects allot that is why he has won as many Majors as he has.

[casmith07]

Congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen he did a great job of keeping his poise and hitting some very good shots on the day.

As for Tiger I still pull for him but think it is going to take some time before he is able to focus and play as he is capable of doing. As for Tiger outburst at times, that outburst is directed at himself he puts allot of pressure on himself and expects allot that is why he has won as many Majors as he has.

Tiger's not even 12 months removed from the most traumatic experience of his life.

He'll be able to get back to his normal level of play, but it probably won't be there until next year. I don't think he'll win a major this year, and I don't think it should shock anyone, either.

[Doomsday101]

Tiger's not even 12 months removed from the most traumatic experience of his life.

He'll be able to get back to his normal level of play, but it probably won't be there until next year. I don't think he'll win a major this year, and I don't think it should shock anyone, either.

I think you are right. I would not be surprised to see him finish strong in the FedEx playoffs. I think that format forces guys to play more consecutive tournaments and I think right now the best thing for Tiger is to be out on the course.

[joseephuss]

Tiger's not even 12 months removed from the most traumatic experience of his life.

He'll be able to get back to his normal level of play, but it probably won't be there until next year. I don't think he'll win a major this year, and I don't think it should shock anyone, either.

Yep. Something finally came around that was capable of stopping Tiger. I imagine if other golfers had to deal with these kind of issues they would probably not even make the cut of these tournaments. Tiger is struggling and it is not surprising. I doubt he struggles this much next year.